Armbrister Resigns From SRC: The Statement

Denise McGregor Armbrister resigned from the School Reform Commission Wednesday. Here's her statement after her resignation.

In 2007 I was asked by Governor Edward Rendell to serve as a Commissioner of the School Reform Commission (SRC) for the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). When I took the oath of office, I made a commitment to myself, my family, and to the community that I would work diligently to improve public education in Philadelphia. With about ninety days remaining in a five year term, I am proud to say that, despite the many complex challenges confronting the SDP, I have been part of a team that has made critically important improvements in the quality and delivery of education for the children in the public schools of Philadelphia.

As an SRC member whose five children have attended schools in the SDP, including my youngest daughter who will graduate from high school in two years, I am dedicated to ensuring that the long term progress that has been made in recent years is not abated.

I believe there is a need to complete the transition to new leadership in the SRC, and to allow the new members to undergo a coordinated orientation which will allow them to quickly focus on the children for whom they pledge to serve.

With about ninety days remaining in my term, I have come to the conclusion that my stepping aside now will enhance the orderly transition to new SRC members, increase the prospects for stability and, I hope, encourage the Commonwealth and the City of Philadelphia to move forward with a coordinated and coherent agenda, together with the SRC and the SDP. Therefore, I hereby tender my resignation, effective immediately. I hope it will be accepted in the spirit it has been tendered; that is, to serve the best interests of the children in the Philadelphia public schools.

I am honored to have been entrusted by the Commonwealth with the responsibility of this critically important and extremely challenging work. I know I have done my very best and I have always acted in the best interests of the children. I wish the members of the reconstituted SRC, Acting Superintendent Nunery and his senior leadership team the very best and encourage them to “stay the course.”